Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 12 September 1918, Page 18

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) September 7. Father Ainsworth, S.M., made a stirring appeal for the Tablet last Sunday at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Tie emphasised the fact that at was New Zealand's Catholic paper, and should be found in every Catholic home. Corporal George Patrick McNamara, 2nd Reinforcements, recently awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field, is the only son of the late Mr. George McNamara, Government Printing Office, and Mrs. McNamara, B"Arlington Street. lie was educated at the'Marist Brothers' School, Bouleott Street. The Bazaar Committee in connection with the rebuilding fund of St. Mary of the Angels' Church met last Monday evening under the presidency of Father Hoare, S.M. There was a large attendance of members, and much enthusiasm was exhibited. Good reports were received from the stall-holders and subcommittees. Important business relating to the bazaar, which is to open this month at the Town Hall, was dealt with, and many matters of detail were arranged. The stall-holders are actively engaged in the work of providing funds for their stalls, and with this object in view every available date is being utilised for attractive entertainments.

Mr. Paul Coffey, of Oriental Bay, has received advice from the High Commissioner that his son, Private Paul Coffey, who was wounded while on the Western Front, is in the Ist New Zealand General Hospital at Brocklehurst suffering from inflammation of the connective tissue of the left leg, and is improving slowly. Private Coffey, who . was in the employ of Messrs.

Thomas Ballinger and Co., Ltd., before he went into camp, was buried in the trenches, and was attended to by the American Red Cross for some time after his rescue. He is an old boy of the local Marist Brothers' School. Major D. J. Gibbs, of the Wellington Harbor Board's head office staff, who is on active service, has forwarded to his relatives here his handsome D.S.O. decoration. He is an old boy of the Marist Brothers' School, Boulcott Street. A contract has been let by the Catholic Federation "for the erection of the Catholic Institute at Tauherenikau Military Camp. The terms of the contract require the building to be completed within two months from September 1. St. Joseph's parish library, another adjunct to the St. Joseph's Parish Committee of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, is largely availed of, and is growing very popular. During the month about 50 new volumes have been added, most of them being a donation from the Marist Brothers, for which the parish is very grateful. Mr. James Mulvey,chief clerk of the local telegraph office, and well known in Southland, has been elected a member of the Public Service Superannuation Board, to represent, the Post and Telegraph officers of the Dominion. He succeeds Mr. E. J. Whiting, of Wanganui, another Catholic, who has retired from the service to take up farming. Private Vernon Haydon, of the Ambulance Corps, who has been gassed, and is now in hospital, was at one time in the Evening Post office. He afterwards joined the literary staff of the New Zealand Times. When he enlisted he was a member of the staff of the Manawatu Daily Times. He is a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. David Dalton, of Barrett's Hotel, and is an old boy of the Marist, Brothers' School, and St. Patrick's College. Another advance in the cause of Catholic education has been made by the letting of a contract to Mr. J. L. McMillan for the erection of a girls' school for St. Joseph's parish. It will be a substantial brick building of six rooms, and will accommodate over 300 children. A special feature of the school will be an up-to-date Kindergarten department. It is hoped to have it. completed for the beginning of the next scholastic year. Mr. Frank J. Oakes, an old boy of the Marist Brothers' School, and conductor of St". Gerard's choir, has very thoughtfully and generously donated framed enlargements of the several directors of the school since the Marist Brothers were established in Wellington. The photographs are hanging in the Marist Brothers' School, Newtown, and were unveiled yesterday by Mr. Oakes, in the presence of the boys. The portraits represent Brothers Sigismund, Mark, Paul, Justin, Basil, and Egbert (the present director). Gunner F. W. Johnson, N.Z.A., reported wounded, is a eon of Mr. W. F. Johnson, of the Parliamentary Library staff, and secretary of the Wellington Diocesan Council of the N.Z. Catholic Federation. He left with the Main Body, 2nd Battery, N.Z.A., which was the first battery to land at Gallipoli and the last to leave the Peninsula, He has been fighting ever since, and this is his first appearance on the casualty list. He was recently reported as being "Mentioned in Despatches,' and the official certificate to that effect reached his parents at the same time they received notification of his having been wounded. Mr. Johnson had three sons in the firing line; the eldest was killed a few months ago and another is still on active servicein France. The sum of £6B 14s 7d has been received from the Napier Parish Committee of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, being the proceeds of an entertainment organised by the Napier Orphans' Club (with Mr. R. A. Keenan as secretary), assisted by artists from Williamson's Operatic Company, in aid of the Catholic Field Service Fund. This is the second entertainment

organised by the Napier Orphans' Club for the Catholic Field Service Fund, the previous concert realising £B4, making a grand total of £152 14s 7d for the benefit of the fund. The lecture on "Lourdes and its Miracles," recently given by Father Gondringer, S.M., M.A., was highly appreciated by the large audience. A very instructive account was given of the "apparitions" subsequent development of Lourdes, and detailed reference was made to some of the miracles. At its conclusion the rev. lecturer was warmly applauded, and on the motion of Mr. J. J. O'Gorman, he was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks. On behalf of the audience Mr. Gamble thanked the ladies who had contributed to the musical programmeMrs. Evatt, and Misses Sullivan and Lawlor. The Social Study Club of the St. Joseph's Parish Committee of the Catholic Federation is evidently going to be a very successful institution. The meetings have been well attended, and members seem anxious to profit by the studies. The club meets on alternate Tuesdays, and studied last month the "Trade Guilds of the Middle Ages" and the "Spanish Inquisition:" The subject before the members at their last meeting was "A Living Wage," which was explained by Mr. M. J. Reardon. The lecture was very interesting and informative, several questions bearing on the inequalities of the present wages received by the workers being ably answered by Mr. Reardon, to whom the thanks of the meeting were accorded. The subject to be discussed at the next meeting is "Social Problems and Catholic Principles." The Dominion Treasurer of the New Zealand Catholic Field Service Fund, acknowledges the receipt of the following donations to the Catholic Field Service Fund:—To amount previously acknowledged, £6Oll 17s lOd; through Christchurch Diocesan Council: Pleasant Point, £6 4s; Waimate, Morveu, Makikihi, £35 Is; A Friend (Sumner), £1; Mr. McGovern (Hokitika), ss; Mrs. E. Kerr (Morton Mains, Southland), 10s; Ngaruawahia, £2 0s 6d ; Petone, £l3 10s 6d; Mr. F. J. Oakes (Wellington), £1 ; Temuka (additional), 7s 6d; Right Rev. Mgr. Mackay (Oamaru), £27 15s 9d; Right Rev. Mgr. Walshe (Westport), £25 3s 6d ; Very Rev. Dean O'Donnell (Gore), £32 5s 6d ; £253 17s lOd; through Wellington Diocesan Council: Reefton, £39; Mr. Byrnes (Rahotu), £1; Napier Orphans' Club, £6B 14s 7d. Less expenditure, as previously detailed, £3719 3s 6d; stationery for troops, £49 55;—£3768 8s 6d. Balance at credit,"£2497 7s 2d. The first annual Rugby football- match between Wanganui Old Boys and Wellington Old Boys of the Marist Brothers' Schools was played at Newtown Park on Saturday, August 24, in the presence of about 500 spectators. After a particularly interesting and at times exciting contest the match ended in favor of Wanganui, the score being Wanganui 15 points, Wellington 11 points. Mr. L. Sievers refereed. A return match is to be played at Wanganui on September 21. Great credit is due to Mr. J. Hay den (treasurer of the M. 8.0.8. Association) and Mr. W. P. Lennon for getting the local team together. It is hoped the association will be in a position to enter at least three teams in next years' competitions under the Wellington Rugby Union, including a senior team and already about 50 players have handed in their names.